Life-net.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

LIFE NET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1911.

A. R. BERGER, H. REYMOND & F. P. A. HORN.

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A. R. BERGER, H. REYMOND & F. P. A. HORN.

LIFE NET.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1911.

Patented Sept. 17,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I l i1 l I I I @MQMS cOLUMBlA PLANOCIRAPH (IO-,WASHINO'ION, Dye.

tr maran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED R. BERGER, HENRY REYMOND, AND FREDRICK P. A. HORN, 0FSPRINGFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS.

LIFE-N ET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 1912.

Application filed November 6, 1911. Serial No. 658,895.

To all whom it mag concern: 7

Be it known that we, ALFRED R. BERGER, a citizen of the United States,and HENRY REYMOND and FREnRIoK P. A. HORN, sub jects of SwitzerlandandGermany, respectively, residing at Springfield, county of Hampden,and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Life-Nets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to life nets onto which persons may jump from aburning building and its object is to provide a device for the statedpurpose which may be readily brought to a small compass when not in useand quickly distended to a relatively large area when needed forservice. This stated object and other incidental objects which willappear as the description of the invention proceeds are attained in suchan apparatus as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and theinvention resides in certain novel features which arepointed out in theclaims at the end ofthe following description.

In the annexed drawings, which show the .preferred embodiment of theinvention,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus in its collapsed condition;Fig. 2 is a side elevatlon of the same; F1g. 31s a plan view on areduced scale showing the relative arrangement of they parts when thenet is distended; Figs. 4. and 5 are detail views in plan and sideelevation, respectively, of the joint by which the members of thespreaders are connected.

In carrying out our invention, we employ a supporting frame composed oftelescopic sides 1 and ends 2 which are rigidly secured to cornerbrackets 3, these several parts being preferably of tubular formation.Each side and end consists of tubes of graduated diameters and thenumber of tubes may be varied according to the dimensions of the netemployed. The smallest tubes are se cured to the corner brackets andextend into the several outer tubes to support the same while theoutermost tubes 4 extend in both. directions from the center point ofthe side or end and fit over the intermediate tubes, the diameters ofthe several tubes being so graduated that they may slide easily andsmoothly upon one another while, at the same time, providing a firmsupport for the net. The ends of all the tubes are beveled or tapered,as shown at 5, whereby they may read1ly enter and pass through the rings6 secured to the edges of the net, indicated at 7, and thereby supportthe net in both its extended and folded positions. The corner 'brackets3 are preferably right angular in form and are provided with inwardlypro jecting shelves or attaching plates 8 to which the binding cords orropes 9, forming the edges of the net are firmly secured. As clearlyshown in Fig. 2, the telescopic sides 1 and ends with the cornerbrackets are dupli-- cated in upper and lower sets, the upperand lowercorner brackets being rigidly connected by posts 10 so that greatstrength will be imparted to the frame. The lower ;brackets are providedwith depending studs 111 on their under sides upon which are :swiveledyokes 12 having carrying wheels .13 journaled in their lower ends, thesaid studs, yokes and wheels being preferably located inward from thesides of the frame to conform to the usual traffic gage of vehicles.Draft devices 14 may be attached to the brackets at either end of theappa- 1ratus to facilitate the hauling of the same to the point of use.

It will be readily understood that the ap paratus is drawn to the sceneof the fire and may be quickly placed atany advantageous position tofurnish a landing for persons who may jump from the building inasmuch asthe swiveled mounting of the Wheels will permit them to caster freelyand swinging of the net around a fixed, point will not be necessary. Thenot having been brought to the desiredposition, the frame is drawn outso as to distend the net and present a large landing surface. 1

The frame may be drawn out and collapsed by hand but we prefer to usemechanical spreaders by which the work may be more easily and rapidlyperformed and which may also be utilized to maintain the apparatus. inits adjustment. In the illustrated arrangement the spreaders eachconsist oflevers 15 having their outer ends pivoted to the corners ofthe frame and their inner ends pivoted to links or pushers 16, it beingunderstood that a spreader is provided for each side and for each end ofthe frame. The outer end of each lever 15 is provided or. formed with aneye 17 fitting around a fixed fulcrum or hinge pin 18 secured in andextending between the upper and lower shelves 8 whereby the inner. end

' links 16 be drawn inward or toward the center of the net, the levers15 connected thereto will be swung out of alinement and their outer endscaused to approach, as

shown in 1, thereby; collapsing the frame and folding the net whereasifthe links be moved outward, the outer ends of the levers will be movedapart thereby extending the frame and spreading the net,

as shown in Fig. 3. It will also be readily f understood on reference toFig. 3, that when the link is pushed outward tothe limit of itsmovement, it will be in alinemen't with the levers so that a brace willbe provided 3 to prevent causal collapsing of the frame.

The links and levers are preferably of tubular form with internallythreaded ends engaged by threaded stems of coupling scoping member,rigid pins extending be-l :tween the upper and lower shelves, leversiprov'idedat their outer ends with eyes en- ;circling said'pins,andlinks pivoted to-and :connecting the inner ends of the levers.-

members 19, 2O which-are joined by a pivot or hinge pin 21 whereby thelinks and levers are pivotally connected; Each link is provided witheyes or loops 22 and 23 on its opposite sides and on thecentral tubes 4at one side and one end of the frame are mounted pulleys 24 and 25 Arope 26 is secured to the *eye 22 on the outer side of each linkandpasses beyond the frame, one of said ropes passing around the pulley24 and then across the frame so that both ropes E 1 ed into theadjacentinner ends of the links and the levers.

may beoperated from oneside or end of the apparatus to draw thelinksoutward and spread the net. Ropes 27 are connected 1 5 anextensible supporting frame therefor, of

V to the eyes or loops 23 and similarly arley 25, sothat bypulling onsaid ropes the net may be folded. a

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it willbe seen that we have provided a simple,strong, durable and easily operated apparatus which will be found highlyeflicient for the purposes forwhich it is designed.

'Having thus'fully described our invention 7 what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a life netand an spreaders attached to the frame at their outer ends and toeachother at their inner .endswhereby the frame may bei extended andcollapsed. h i 2. The combination with a'life neg-and an'exten'siblesupporting frame therefor, of

spreaders consisting oflevers having their telescoping members extendingbetween and 5' carried by said brackets, shelves on the inner sides ofthe'brackets, a ne-t'connected to said shelves and telescoping members,levers having their outerends pivotal'ly mounted on the shelves, andlinks-pivoted to and con 5 necting' the innerends of the levers.

4:. The combination of upper and lower corner brackets, telescopingmembers extending between andcarried by said brackets, shelves on theinner sides of the brack lets, a net connected to said shelves and tele-5. TheTcombinat-ionwith a life net, and

and hinge couplings having[Inembersthread- 6. The combination with alife net," and ranged, one of them passing over the pulispreadersconsisting of levers having their gouter ends pivoted to the corners ofthe @frame, links pivoted to and connecting the E inner ends of thelevers, and operating ropes iattachedto said links and extending beyondthe frame and arranged to draw the links toward and from the frame.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands this fourteenth day ofOctober, 1911, in the presence oftwo attesting witnesses.

ALFRED R. BERGER. HENRY REYMOND. F EDRro r. A. HORN.

Witnesses: r

MAX WAGHUME, GEORGE WEILDON;

i Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for fiveoents'each, by addressingthe Commissioner of :Iatents.

f an extensible supporting frame therefor, of jtubular levers havingtheir outer ends piv- ;oted to the corners of the frame, tubular linksbetween the innerends of the levers,

